Heading up the effort

Wednesday

Mar 13, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - A new economic development plan endorsed by the county government Tuesday was the culmination of a desire by San Joaquin officials to stress the importance of attracting businesses to the region.

Zachary K. Johnson

STOCKTON - A new economic development plan endorsed by the county government Tuesday was the culmination of a desire by San Joaquin officials to stress the importance of attracting businesses to the region.

Last year, the board approved a budget with room for a high-level position devoted to the task, and last year, that newly created position was filled by an official whose career in economic development spans more than two decades.

"I think it emphasizes the county wants to make economic development work," board Chairman Ken Vogel said.

And the new chief deputy county administrator heading up the effort brings with him both business connections and experience dealing with a wide range of situations that would prepare him for San Joaquin County's economic growth, Vogel said.

Harry Mavrogenes, 63, who was head of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency since 2004, was hired in November.

Before Gov. Jerry Brown's 2011 plan to dissolve redevelopment agencies, the San Jose agency was one of the largest in the state. It had built more than $2 billion worth of public facilities and infrastructure in downtown San Jose and had an annual tax increment of more than $185 million, according to the city.

Mavrogenes worked for the redevelopment agency for more than two decades, which was broken up in the 1990s with an eight-year stint working for Miami Beach, including as assistant city manager.

That experience has helped him prepare for the job in San Joaquin County, he said. "I see this like San Jose was like 25 or 30 years ago."

Back then, many were lamenting that San Jose was the bedroom community for Silicon Valley, he said. And today, San Joaquin County is the bedroom community for many commuters to the Bay Area, he said.

Besides the work force, the county has opportunity for wine tasters and eco-tourism in the Delta, he said. "We have some really great assets here."

An airport that can handle jumbo jets and an ocean port linking to Asia allow the county to broaden its vision.

"Not only are we a gateway to the Bay Area, we are looking even farther - to the Far East," Mavrogenes said.

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